Middle School topic:  Armed robbery is worse than corruption.

The experience of participating in the 2015 debate, standing on the grand stage, and speaking on exciting topics in front of a huge audience was exhilarating!  Amidst the nervousness, there was a feeling of pride that I was representing my school (EIS).  This competition gave me a chance to dwell on and learn contemporary issues and ‘think out of the box.’  I also enjoyed listening to my fellow debaters.  Fetching the gold medal was the ‘icing on the cake.’

-Ishan Bhowmik, Year 8

Senior topic: The health of a democracy depends on the freedom of its press.

Political Scientist and Harvard University lecturer, Pippa Norris, wrote in an excellent work called ‘A Virtuous Circle?’ that the press acts as a watchdog over the abuses of democracy.  The freedom of the press is so essential to a democracy that Edmund Burke once referred to it as the ‘fourth estate’ or the ‘fourth pillar’ of a viable democracy. Therefore, the health of a democracy not only depends on the freedom of its press, it is impossible without it!

-Brian Manglani, Year 12

Lower School topic:  Women should be allowed to do the same jobs as men.

Women living in patriarchal societies have to fight to get the same jobs as men, when this, in actual fact, is their right.

-Aurelie Diouf, Year 5